THREE weeks ago, budding Bolton singer Rebecca Goven was in tears after being told she would not go through to the Pop Idol final.

But now she will take centre stage on the ITV1 show after being given a second chance.

The 23-year-old is to replace previous finalist Layla Manoocherhi who was disqualified because she was aged only 15.

Pop Idol's rules state contestants must be aged 16 and over -- but Layla's bad luck has been Rebecca's salvation.

It has not all been plain sailing for Rebecca, however, as the show's resident Mr Nasty, Simon Cowell, has been critical of her during rehearsals.

Rebecca said: "I hate him. He's so arrogant and full of himself. The other judges are all right, I guess, but the good thing about this show is that the viewers decide who wins."

She has spent the week in London working with the programme's voice coaches.

The Westhoughton lass has been given lessons in timing and breathing and feels she is now ready to wow Saturday's TV audience.

Contestants sing for a couple of minutes and are then criticised -- positively or negatively -- by judges Cowell, Dr Fox, Nicki Chapman and veteran songwriter Pete Waterman.

Rebecca, who attended Rivington and Blackrod School and now works at Multi-skilled Contract Services in Westhoughton, said: "The voice coaches were so complimentary that I was in tears but the judges are always that bit harsher.

"I'm not especially nervous about appearing on TV again but there is some exceptional talent on the show, there's no doubt about that."

Rebecca never had voice training when she was younger and entered the auditions "raw". She said: "I wanted to give it a go. My aim is to become famous."

The show airs on ITV1 at 6.10pm tomorrow with a special Pop Idol Extra programme at 7.10pm on ITV2.

A Pop Idol spokesman said: "We wish Rebecca all the best -- she deserves a second chance. We also hope Layla's experience of Pop Idol so far will have made her more confident in her singing ability."

Next week we speak to another local Pop Idol contestant, Sarah Whatmore from Worsley who faces the infamous Darius who previously tried his luck in Popstars. AXED: Layla was disqualified for being too young REVERSAL OF FORTUNE: Rebecca has a second chance on TV's Pop Idol